Definitions

An "alcoholic beverage" shall include alcohol, spirits, wine, beer, and every liquid or solid containing alcoholic spirits, wine or beer and that which is capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being.

A "controlled substance" is defined in Federal "21 USC 0-1-ETSEQ" and State Nebraska Revised Statutes "28-41 ETSEQ" Drug Control Laws.

The term "conviction" means a finding of guilt "including a plea of nolo contendere" or imposition of a sentence or both by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine the violation of federal or state criminal drug statutes.

Philosophy

The College cares about its students and employees, their health, and well being, and it encourages all individuals to care about each other. Notwithstanding, the College openly and publicly acknowledges that there are many academic and social problems associated with the legal and illegal consumption of alcoholic beverages, and the legal and illegal consumption of other drugs, which have a negative impact on students, employees, and campus life in general. Since this is the case, Hastings College takes the following strategy relative to the possession and use of alcohol and other drugs on and off campus:

Standards of conduct for students and employees of Hastings College and their guests while on campus:

All laws pertaining to alcohol and drug use will be observed, including, but not limited to, legal drinking age, prohibitions against providing alcohol to minors, and restrictions against operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Compliance with these laws will be assumed in what follows.

No alcoholic beverages or drugs banned by law may be possessed or used on campus by any Hastings College employee, student or their guests. The possession and/or use on campus of alcohol or any drug banned by law or any analog drug or other chemical sub-stance, compound or combination when used to: induce an altered state; and/or including any otherwise lawfully available product (such as over the counter or prescription drugs) used for any purpose other than its intended use by a Hastings College employee, student, or their guests will subject the employee or student or guest to disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the College.

Hastings College does not approve of or condone the possession or use of alcohol by employees and students off campus if under the age of 21. As a result, the College will enforce the following additional guidelines requiring off-campus party registrations:

* Any student event off campus or at the apartments where alcohol will be served will be registered with the Director of Student Activities.* Each party host who registers their party is charged with insuring compliance with the laws of the State of Nebraska and the Hastings College Code of Conduct.* Registration is intended to serve as a mechanism for communicating responsible guidelines for social events and event organizers, and to assure participants of the events that the organizers are committed to such policies.* Registration of an event does not constitute an endorsement by Hastings College nor does it constitute a representation that Hastings College has or will insure compliance with this or any other college policy.* The Director of Student Activities has the discretion to limit a group from registering their event if the group has failed to follow through with the registration process in the past or if it has failed to adhere to the guidelines for social events.* Any sponsoring group or person who fails to return the registration form (to the Director of Student Activities) shall be subject to disciplinary action.* Posters and signs promoting registered events may be posted and tickets for these events may be sold on campus.* No posters, signs, or e-mail announcements promoting student events not registered with the Director of Student Activities will be approved for display on campus.* No tickets for any student events not registered with the Director of Student Activities will be sold on campus.

Furthermore, Hastings College encourages responsible behavior while participating in college sponsored off-campus excursions.

In addition, Hastings College places the following restrictions on other related items:

* No alcohol cans, bottles or paraphernalia are allowed in the residence halls or campus houses for any purpose.* No advertising for beer or other alcohol will be accepted in any campus publication or for display on campus. This includes posters in the public areas of the residence halls.* No college funds, including campus organization treasury funds processed through the Hastings College Business Office, will be used to purchase alcoholic beverages for any student activities where alcohol will be made available to underage students.* No member of the faculty, administration, or staff will be allowed to drive students to off-campus student events where alcohol will be served.* No college vehicles will be provided for any student event that may involve alcohol.

Legal Sanctions: Local, state and federal laws prohibit the unlawful possession or dis-tribution of alcohol and illicit drugs. Violations of such laws are criminal offenses. Sanctions and penalties for such violations may range from probation to substantial monetary fines and/or imprisonment for substantial time periods if prosecuted in the criminal or civil courts.

On Campus Disciplinary Sanctions: Disciplinary sanctions for students violating alcohol and other drug provisions of the Hastings College Student Code of Conduct/Due Process Document will include the following minimum sanctions:

First Violation* Parental notification* Fine or service hours* Mandatory completion of alcohol or drug education program with the Director of Counseling Services

Third Violation* Parental notification* Fine or service hours* Probation* Possible suspension from residency or the college

Fourth Violation* Parental notification* Fine or service hours* Suspension from residency or the college

Good Samaritan Policy:

Student health and safety are primary concerns of the Hastings College community. Students are expected to contact Public Safety, a member of the residence life staff, or other college official when they believe that medical assistance for an intoxicated/impaired student is required. In case of medical emergency or in the event that a college official can not be reached, students should call 911 for assistance from local police, fire, or medical emergency professionals. When such assistance is sought for an intoxicated/impaired student, the students and/or organizations seeking help, as well as the individual assisted and others involved, will not be subject to college disciplinary action with respect to the alcohol policy. (This policy does not preclude disciplinary action regarding other violations of college standards, such as causing or threatening physical harm, sexual abuse or violence, damage to property, harassment, hazing, etc. Students should also be aware that this college policy does not prevent action by state and local authorities.)

In order for this policy to apply, the intoxicated student(s) must agree to timely completion of recommended alcohol education activities, assessment, and/or treatment depending upon the level of concern for student health and safety. Serious or repeated incidents will prompt a higher degree of medical concern. Failure to complete recommended follow-up will normally result in disciplinary action and could also prompt the imposition of a medical withdrawal from the college.

Since Hastings College is interested in increasing employee and student awareness of the issues related to alcohol and drug use and abuse, it will also take the following steps:

* Hastings College will provide educational efforts to increase awareness about the effects of alcohol and drug use, including in-class and extra-curricular lectures and discussions. Information will also be provided through films, posters, and pamphlets, and peer educational efforts promoted through the BACCHUS group.* Greek organizations will be targeted for additional education on health and safety issues, especially regarding hazing and acute alcohol intoxication.* Hastings College will provide counseling support through the Stone Health Center and/or the Counseling Center for those wishing to decrease their consumption of alcohol or drugs and/or deal with alcohol/drug related problems. This will include individual, small group, and/or large group counseling support, as requested.* The Director of Student Activities and the Student Affairs Office at Hastings College will provide advice, assistance, and encouragement to student organizations for their development and promotion of guidelines for responsible decision-making about alcohol use by their members.* The Director of Student Activities and the Student Affairs Office at Hastings College will promote and facilitate any student organization’s efforts to provide alcohol free social and recreational options.* The Director of Student Activities and the Student Affairs Office at Hastings College will encourage and cooperate with local businesses to help reduce the drinking pro-motions targeting underage drinkers and excessive drinking.

Health Risks: Drug abuse is a major health problem in the United States. College-age students are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of alcohol and other drug abuse because of their tendency to engage in a variety of high-risk behaviors. The problems associated with alcohol and/or other drug consumption covers a broad range including physical and psychological illnesses (acute alcohol poisoning, mood disorders, self-destructive behavior, and suicide). Accidents, homicides and suicide are the leading causes of mortality in the college-age population, and alcohol is a major contributing factor in a third to half of all the cases. Alcohol is also a contributing factor in poor decision-making that can lead to unsafe and antisocial behaviors (arguments, fights, driving while intoxicated, sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies). With respect to long-term consequences of alcohol and other drug abuse, the most serious illness and the highest rate of mortality result from alcohol-induced liver damage. Other consequences of chronic alcohol and other drug abuse include gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, and permanent damage to the brain and nervous system.

Drug and Alcohol Counseling Treatment or Rehabilitation Programs:

Students: The Stone Health Center coordinates and offers a variety of alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and education services for students, referral services, alcohol and other drug education classes, and peer alcohol educators associated with the campus BACCHUS program. In addition, a part-time counselor provides counseling, evaluation, and rehabilitation referral service for those students who are having difficulty with alcohol and drug use/abuse.

It should be understood that, ultimately, each individual is responsible for their own behavior and, regardless of what Hastings College may do as an institution; individuals must make their own decisions and take responsibility for any problems they encounter as a resul

Alcohol Policy for College Sponsored Off-Campus Excursions

It is understood that there are special considerations related to the use of alcohol during off-campus excursions when those excursions extend outside of the regular instructional day, and may extend for several days. These considerations stem from the need to balance the rights of students to exercise their legal personal freedoms with the responsibility of the college to maintain a safe and effective learning and teaching atmosphere during such excursions. Therefore, the following policies will govern the use of alcohol by students on college sponsored off-campus excursions such as field trips, sporting events, and others. Sponsoring departments and trip organizers may establish restrictions in addition to these (e.g., Athletic Department prohibitions on any alcohol consumption by athletes, a specific faculty member deeming alcohol consumption inappropriate in association with the purposes of the trip.):

Students will observe all laws pertaining to alcohol use in the jurisdiction where the excursion takes place. These include, but are not limited to; legal drinking age, prohibitions against providing alcohol to minors, restrictions against operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and alcohol-restricted zones such as parks, public buildings, and campgrounds. Compliance with this element of the policy is assumed throughout what follows.

Students will refrain from the consumption of alcohol during periods that the faculty members in charge of the excursion define as instructional periods. Instructional periods may include any part or all of any given day during the excursion and are not limited to periods used for direct instruction. Students may consume alcohol only during periods defined as personal, non-instructional time.

Students who use alcohol during personal, non-instructional time will do so in a manner that allows them to be prepared to participate fully in subsequent instruction with complete sobriety and without physical or mental impairment.

In all cases, faculty members’ discretion and authority will prevail with respect to the appropriateness of student alcohol consumption at any particular time, instructional or personal, during off-campus excursions.

At all times students are responsible for following the Hastings College “Code of Conduct” published later in this handbook.

No illegal drugs or any analog drug or other chemical substance, compound or combination when used to: induce an altered state; and/or including any otherwise lawfully available product (such as over the counter or prescription drugs) used for any purpose other than its intended use will be allowed during any off-campus excursion.

Students are ultimately responsible for their own behavior and compliance with laws and regulations of the local jurisdiction, Hastings College policies, department restrictions and faculty authority.

Guidelines for Social Events

An equal number of alternative, non-alcoholic beverages should be provided at each event involving alcoholic beverages.

Food should be provided at each event involving alcoholic beverages.* The amount of food should be reasonable depending on the number of guests expected.* The variety of food should include some items without salt.

Each participant should present an ID when entering any event involving alcoholic beverages or when purchasing alcohol.* A mark or wristband will be used to designate those of legal age (21 in Nebraska).* Enforcement should occur at private parties, as well as at liquor establishments.

Third-party vendors or trained servers will be used for all registered events.* Alcoholic beverages should not be served to intoxicated individuals.* The serving of alcohol will cease one hour before the event is over.

Security measures will be taken so underage drinking is monitored.* Empty or abandoned drinks will be discarded.* Alcoholic beverages will not be passed "under the table."

Designated Drivers or Hastings College Safe Rides will be used at each social event.* If Designated Drivers are used, there shall be one driver for every five people in atten-dance.* If Designated Drivers are used, a sheet should be posted at the social event listing their names.* If Safe Rides are used, they shall be notified of the time, place, and hours of the social event several days in advance.* If Safe Rides are used, the telephone number to call should be posted in a prominent place at the social event.* If Safe Rides are used, intoxicated individuals should be driven to their place of residence and left with a responsible friend or family member.

All social gatherings, including pre- and post-parties ("primers" and "posters") that are in violation of these guidelines are officially discouraged by the College and its campus organizations.\

No illegal drugs or any analog drug or other chemical substance, compound or combination when used to: induce an altered state; and/or including any otherwise lawfully available product (such as over the counter or prescription drugs) used for any purpose other than its intended use will be allowed at any registered party.